The sandy isthmus connecting North and South Bruny Island in Tasmania, Australia

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An isthmus (English pronunciation: /ˈɪsθməs/ or /ˈɪsməs/; plural: isthmuses, isthmi, from Ancient Greek: ἰσθμός, isthmos, neck) is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas.^[1] Of note, the Isthmus of Corinth connects the peninsula of Peloponnese with the rest of the Greek peninsula, the Isthmus of Panama connects the continents of North and South America (the Americas), and the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt connects Africa and Asia (or Eurasia).

Canals are often built on isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation. The Panama Canal bisects the Isthmus of Panama, thereby connecting the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; the Suez Canal adjoins the North Atlantic and Indian Oceans, cutting across the Isthmus of Suez to connect the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Suez/Red Sea. Strait is the sea counterpart of isthmus.

[edit] List of isthmuses

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] In Asia [edit] Southeast Asia The Isthmus of Kra connecting Malay Peninsula with the mainland of Asia. [edit] Red Sea Isthmus of Suez between North Africa and Sinai Peninsula. [edit] In Oceania [edit] In Australia Eaglehawk Neck near Port Arthur, Tasmania. The Neck in Bruny Island, Tasmania connecting North and South Bruny. [edit] New Zealand Auckland isthmus between Northland Peninsula and New Zealand's North Island[2]. The Rongotai isthmus, where Wellington International Airport is located. [edit] In Europe [edit] Mediterranean Sea Isthmus of Bolbs[citation needed], which joins Gibraltar to mainland Spain. Isthmus of Corinth, which connects the Peloponnese peninsula to the rest of Greece. Isthmus of Potidea, connecting the Kassandra peninsula with the mainland of Greece. [edit] Black Sea Isthmus of Perekop between Crimea and Ukraine proper. [edit] Russia Karelian Isthmus connecting Finland and Russia. [edit] British Isles La Coupée isthmus in Sark. Forth-Clyde isthmus in Scotland. Mavis Grind isthmus in Shetland. [edit] Iceland Isthmus of Westfjords peninsula, which connects to the mainland of Iceland. [edit] Americas [edit] USA Madison Isthmus Isthmus of Chignecto [edit] Canada Isthmus of Avalon [edit] Mexico Isthmus of Tehuantepec [edit] Panama Isthmus of Panama [edit] Venezuela Isthmus of Médanos - links Venezuela to Paraguaná. [edit] Chile Ofqui Isthmus, Aisén Region, Chile.

The Suez Canal crosses the Suez isthmus The Isthmus of Panama

[edit] See also

• Geography
• Mainland
• Tombolo
• Peninsula
• Land bridge

[edit] Notes

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